Billy O'Connell knows how to get things done. Maybe it's the tough Irish accent, or the fact that for years he was an L.A. County sheriff. Whatever it is, when you talk to him, you understand he's a no-nonsense, take-charge sort of guy. So years ago, when he got the calling after helping out at a Santa Ana soup kitchen, it was easy to predict he'd soon be making a difference.

Elyssa Houchen smiled faintly as she faced the camera.
"I'm 17," she wrote in her response to the photographer's question. "My dad couldn't make enough money to keep my mother married to him. She left. I now live with my dad, older sister and 3 room...

It's the season to feel fluish.
Help may come from something Jewish.
Long called Jewish penicillin, chicken soup's power to heal has mainly been viewed as folklore but recent scientific studies have proven that it has genuine health benefits, so much so...

Animated fun: The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa continues its free outdoor Movie Mondays events with the Disney animated feature "Mulan" this Monday. Contests begin at 7:30 p.m., followed by the the movie at about 8 p.m. Patina Catering...

Huntington Beach has decided to levy a utility tax on the residents of Sunset Beach when they are annexed, an action previously thought to be unconstitutional without giving them a vote.
Taking a second look at the laws, the city has determined it must...

When Ryan Van Tuyl first picked up a guitar in the eighth grade, the notion of a rock 'n' roll school for kids seemed pretty far-fetched.
The Fountain Valley High School graduate first honed his musical chops by playing bass in a friend's punk band. At the time, rock music was already a multimillion-dollar industry, but it didn't have the prestige of, say, law or medicine.
"When I was a kid and I wanted to go buy a guitar and join and band, my dad was absolutely against it," said Van Tuyl, a...

Dr. Nanette Mitchell, who works in internal medicine at Memorial Prompt Care in Huntington Beach, has recently been urging her patients to go to another care center down the block.
One for spiritual healing.
Mitchell has taken classes at Seventh Chakra Yoga, a new studio in a crowded strip mall at 19171 Magnolia St., since it opened in May.
She's encouraged her patients to do the same to alleviate anxiety and stress, and at least one, she said, has taken her advice.
"We're seeing a lot of stress...

As if eight nights and 350 films aren't exciting enough, now we have "Lido Goes Pop!" to look forward to. For the first time in its 12-year run, Newport Beach Film festivalgoers can convene nightly at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach as Riviera Magazine transforms the quaint waterfront village into a shopping, dining and gathering mecca.
Stop by and enjoy goodies, giveaways and sneak peeks at newly revealed products as well as tasty bites from renowned restaurants starting Thursday through May 5. ("...

I spoke to Linda Hogan while she was in the whirl of an intense media tour for her new book, "Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes." On show after show, from "Today" to "On the Record w/Greta Van Susteren," Hogan was describing what her life was like with pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.
The day we spoke, Hulk had just decided to strike, publicly disputing her allegations of abuse. As Hogan told me, it was just what she expected.
"He's just taking it like a sore loser," she said. "I'd expect him to...

Regarding the article by Mona Shadia on the issue of the alleged sale of cocaine at Killarney Pub & Grill and the sale of that substance generally in Huntington Beach ("Pair pleads not guilty to selling cocaine," July 7), I wish Mayor Joe Carchio the best of luck. I do hope downtown businesses will assist the city in alleviating the problem.
The problem, of course, is not solved by the tinkering of politicians but by addressing the issue systemically. Drugs are a national problem because the nation has...

Imagine walking into a home full of green plants. When you open the door, the area greets you with an unmistakable feeling. The air is alive and clean, full of positive energy. The plants seem to be giving off not only oxygen, but good vibrations.
A home with indoor plants not only feels different, but also, science is now proving, it really is different in a very healthy way.
Most people would agree that the extra oxygen provided by indoor plants is a healthy benefit. But evidence gained during 25...